Slidable closure



Nov. 24, 1970 A. ROSSIE SLIDABLE CLOSURE Filed Feb. 23. 1,968

'3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l/l/l/I FIG.'4

FIG.3

' INVENTOR ALFRED ROSSIE BY Mmm. W

AGENTS Nov. 24, 1970 A. ROSSIE SLIDABLE CLOSURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 23, 1968 uss FIG.

I l/z ///I/ 11 1 I 1/ I INVEN'IOR, ALFRED ROSSIE BY Mum, M W

AGENTS United States Patent 3,541,731 SLIDABLE CLOSURE Alfred Rossi, Thomasweg 5, Suechteln, Germany Filed Feb. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 707,661 Claims priority, application Germany, Feb. 24, 1967, R 45,368; Feb. 5, 1968, R 47,940 Int. Cl. Ed 13/02 US. Cl. 49425 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The guide means for a sliding closure panel includes a guide post extending over the length of the panel in the direction of the sliding movement, and a roller guide having at least three rollers engaging the post and spaced over the periphery of the post, at least one of the rollers being spaced from the other rollers in the direction of sliding movement so that the post is securely guided between the rollers. Either the post or the rollers are ailixed to the panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sliding doors and windows. Doors are normally pivoted about a vertical axis into open and closed positions, and the same holds true for some types of windows. Where there is little room in front of the door, opening the same becomes difficult and blocks a narrow passageway into which such doors are opened. Where sliding doors or windows are used, one half of the door or window usually remains in place while the other half is slid behind it. This means that the closure panel is removed only from half of the opening covered by the door or window. In cases where the closure is used for a kitchen or other cabinet, for instance, this is particularly cumbersome because the cabinet door halves must be slid back and forth to gain access to objects placed on both sides of the cabinet. In the case of a window, only one half of the opening can be made accessible to the entry of air into the room.

Various efforts have been made to overcome these problems, such as an arrangement in which the closure panel are used for sliding-rather wide closure panels, the danger of wedging in the guide rails increases.

" Theobject of the present invention is the avoidance of all these difiiculties by providing a novel and improved guide means for sliding a closure panel either vertically up or down, or laterally out of the opening of a fixed struc- ',ture, such as a cabinet or closet, a door frame, a window frame, or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one of its basic aspects, this invention provides guide means for sliding a closure panel into an open position, which includes an elongated guide member, such as a post. extending over the length of the panel in the direction of sliding movement, and a roller guide member engaging ice and securely holding the elongated guide member between its rollers. The roller guide member has at least three rollers spaced over more than half the periphery of the elongated guide member, and at least one of the rollers is spaced from the other rollers in the direction of sliding movement. Either the elongated guide member or the roller guide member is affixed to the fixed structure whose opening the closure panel is designed to close, and the other guide member is affixed to the closure panel and moves with it during the sliding movement.

Thus, a single guide replaces the pair of guides provided along the edges of closure panels, such as Windows, in conventional structures. Such a single, narrow guide may be positioned centrally of the opening, for instance, in all cases except where the opening is very wide, in which instance more than one such guide may be spaced along the width of the closure. Among other advantages, such a central guide has the advantage over a pair of laterally extending guide grooves that it avoids any danger of jamming if the closure panel is lifted with more pressure on one side than the other.

If the roller guide member is affixed to the closure panel near its trailing edge (in the direction of the sliding movement), the guide post is aflixed to the fixed structure, pref erably centrally of the opening, thus imparting added stability to the structure and also sub-dividing the opening into two halves, which may be particularly advantageous where the opening is wide.

If the post is afiixed to the closure panel and the roller guide member is stationary, the post moves out of the opening with the closure, thus leaving the entire opening free of any obstruction after the closure panel has been does not imply that all'surfaces thereof need be engaged by the rollers. For instance, where the elongated guide member is a hexagonal post, only alternate surfaces of the post need be engaged by rollers.

Furthermore, secure guidance will be assured if the rollers are staggered in the direction of the sliding movement. While three rollers are often suflicient, it will be most useful if three pairs of such rollers are used in three planes spaced along the axis of the elongated guide member.

Preferably, the cross section of the elongated member is constant throughout its length. .While the elongated guide member may take any suitable geometric form having at least one axis of symmetry, such as circular or oval, the preferred cross section is polygonal because the rollers will then engage flat surfaces, thus preventing jamming. A regular pentagon or hexagon is a particularly useful geometric form for the guide post of the guide means of this invention. 3 1

If the rollers run on ball bearings, easy and noiseless sliding will be assured. The sliding movement will be further facilitated, particularly where heavy doors are involved, by attaching counterweight means to the closure panel. Special safety devices may also be incorporated in the closure to prevent its sudden closure.

While the persent invention will be exemplified in the following detailed description of certain now preferred embodiments in connection with a wall cabinet, such as used in bathrooms, it will be clearly understood that it will be useful in all instances where there is little space for opening a door and where the door is to be moved entirely out of the opening it covers.

Obviously, the guide means may be arranged not only for vertical sliding movement up or down, but also for lateral movement, or for oblique sliding movement, such as doors in vehicles used in mines.

Also, the invention is very useful in sliding windows which are moved downwardly. In such an arrangement, the elongated guide post may extend downwardly from the bottom of the window opening, for instance in a recessed slot in the wall, while the roller guide member is affixed to the window pane for sliding movement along the post. In such an arrangement, no window frame at all is required.

Another advantageous application of this invention is found in car windows which may be curved, the guide post being then curved conformingly to permit lowering of the window pane. Other manifold fields of applications will readily occur to those skilled in the art to guide the sliding movement of closure panels in relation to an opening defined by a fixed structure, the elongated guide member always extending in the direction of the sliding movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section schematically showing a wall cabinet with a closure according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar view illustrating a modified feature of this embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a similar view schematically showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows, on an enlarged scale, a top view, partly in section, of the guide means;

FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a front view, partly in section, of a modified feature of the guide means of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a top view, partly in section, of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section of a convexly curved side window of a car, incorporating the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a top view of the guide means of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixed structure chosen for purposes of illustrating is a wall cabinet whose lower wall 1 and upper wall 2 define an opening. The slidable closure over this opening comprises a closure panel or door 9 having a length and a width dimensioned to cover the wall cabinet opening in the illustrated closed position of the panel. This panel is upwardly movable into an open position, and the guide means for sliding the closure panel into the open position includes an elongated guide member 16 extending over the full length of panel 9 in the direction of the sliding movement and a roller guide member 12. The elongated guide member is a post arranged centrally of the cabinet opening and the closure panel and, in the illustrated embodiment, the post is affixed to the panel 9 by means of connecting webs 8 and 10 projecting inwardly of the panel 9 over the walls 1 and 2 of the cabinet, when the closure panel is in the closedposition. In this embodiment, the closure panel or door slides into the open position with the post 16, for which purpose the upper end of the 'post is guided in a conforming bore in the upper wall 2 of the cabinet and the lower wall 1 has a cut-out 1a permitting the connecting web 8 to move through this wall when the door is slid upwardly. The roller guide member 12 is a structural unit affixed to the upper wall 2 of the cabinet. Guide member 12 has three pairs of rollers 13, 14, 15 which are staggered in the direction of the sliding movement. The rollers engage the post 16 and hold it securely therebetween, the rollers of each pair enclosing an angle of 120 for gripping engagement with the post. As shown, the roller pairs 13, 14 engage post 16 in front while the roller pair 15 engages it in back. When the door 9 is slid open, it moves with post 16 through fixed guide member 12 in rolling engagement with rollers 13, 14, 15.

To facilitate the sliding movement particularly of heavier doors and to hold the same in a desired position to the opening, a counterweight means may be attached to the door, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the modification of FIG. 1, this includes a counterweight 4 attached to the closure panel 9 by means of a band 5, for instance of nylon, having one end connected to hook 11 on web 8 while its other end carries the counterweight. The band 5 is trained over guide rolls 6, 7 affixed to the cabinet-near its upper wall 2, and the counterweight moves in a space between the back wall 3 of the cabinet and the room wall (not shown) to which the cabinet is attached.

In the modification of FIG. 2 (which otherwise is identical with the embodiment of FIG. 1), the counterweight means consists of a coiled spring 21.

In the above described embodiment of the invention, the entire opening of the cabinet is accessible when the door has been slid open, except for the small space required at the top for guide member 12, neither of the guide members being visible when the door is open. If desired, this small upper space may be used for mounting a light for the cabinet.

The main difference between the embodiment of FIG. 1 and that of FIG. 3 resides in the fact that, in the latter embodiment of the present invention, the guide post is stationary while the roller guide moves along the guide post. As shown, the guide post 38 is fixedly mounted between the lower wall 30 and the upper wall 39 of the wall cabinet, extending centrally of the cabinet opening which may be closed by the door 32. The roller guide member 31 (otherwise constructed like the one described in connection with FIG. 1) is affixed to the door 32 near its lower edge so that it comes to rest adjacent the lower cabinet wall in the illustrated closed position of the door. When the door is opened, the roller guide member slides upwardly along guide post 38, aided by counterweight 37 attached to one end of band 34 trained over rolls 35, 36 the other end of which is attached to the roller guide member 31 by hook 33.

If desired, a shock absorbing element, such as a felt strip or the like, or a rubber stop, may be arranged on the upper wall of the roller guide member or the underside of upper wall 39.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show a guide means useful in this inven tion in greater detail. The roller guide member 53 of the guide means forms a structural unit consisting of a channel carrying stub shafts 72 which rotatably carry three pairs of rollers 56, 56, 57, S7 and 71, 71. The pairs of rollers are staggered in the direction of the sliding movement of the closure 60, and the rollers of each pair enclose an angle of 120 so that the rollers are perpendicular to the gliding surfaces of the guide post 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide post has thecross section of a regular hexagon. The rollers are mounted on ball bearings on their stub shafts. Brackets 51 and 52 atfix the guide member 53 to the upper wall of the cabinet or other fixed structure (not shown), and the guide post 62 is affixed to the closure by means of connecting webs 59, 68 and screws 58 so that it moves with the closure during its sliding movement between the rollers 56, 57, 71. The closure may be opened and closed by handle 61.

The counterweight means includes a band attached to the connecting web 68 at 69 and trained over guide roll 54. As shown in FIG. 5, sudden closure of door 60, for instance by rupture of band 70, is avoided by providing a special safety device. This includes a pivotal arm 65 carrying the guide roll 54. The counterweight attached to the end of band 70 (not shown) biases arm 65 about pivot 66 in clockwise direction. A horizontally extending stop 64 engages a groove in the pivotal arm 65 to hold the same against pivoting under normal conditions. The stop is a flat metal element having a cut-out of slightly larger circumference than that of post 62, the cut-out of the metal element encircling the post. Upon sudden rupture of the band 70, the tension spring 63 biases the arm 65 and the roll 54 carried thereby counterclockwise about pivot 66. This will cause the stop 64 to be disengaged from arm 65 and to drop into the position indicated in broken lines at 64. This causes the cut-out of stop 64 to be wedged against the post 62 so that the post cannot move and the door 60 is thus held against sliding movement.

FIG. 6 shows clearly how the rollers are spaced symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the post 62 in an angle of more than 180. Obviously, a similar efiect would be obtained if this cross section were pentagonal, for instance.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the elongated guide member or post consists of a plurality of telescoped tubes which may be extended and collapsed. This embodiment is designed particularly for large cabinets or closets with heavy doors. Only the lower wall 88 and the upper wall 89 of the closet is shown in FIG. 7, the guide post 73 extending vertically through these walls. The post consists of two telescoped tubes 74, 75, the circumference of lower tube 74 forming a pentagon, as shown in FIG. 8, and being afiixed to closet wall 88 by end plate 76. Tube 74 has a circular axial bore into which is slidably telescoped a cylindrical post 75 carrying a stop plate 90 at its upper end, as well as a short section 91 of pentagonal cross section.

The roller guide member 77 has rollers 79, 80, 81, 82 (with a symmetrically arranged roller not visible in the drawing) and 84 which rollingly engage the pentagonal surfaces of lower guide member element 74 and of section 91 of the upper guide member. The guide member 77 is attached to the lower edge of the door 92 by means of U-shaped element 78 and, when the door is lifted, the guide member rollers engage the stop plate 90 and thus move the upper post 75 upwardly, extending the elongated guide member 73 as the door is opened, providing secure guide means during the entire opening movement of the door. The weight of the door 92 is balanced by means of a band 86 trained over a guide roll 87, as described above.

While the cross sections of the two telescopin parts of the guide post 73 have been illustrated as different from each other, i.e., pentagonal and circular, respectively, it may be preferred to make them of the same cross section, one difiering from the other only by a slightly larger diameter. In this manner, the cross section of the extended elongated guide member will be almost the same throughout its length, thus providing very secure guidance to roller guide member 77.

FIGS. 9 and show a side window of a car to be moved downwardly in the manner of the present invention. An elongated guide member 105 has the form of a U-shaped rail which is firmly engaged by four ball bearings 106 and two additional ball bearings 108, 109 forming part of the roller guide member 101 aflixed to the curved glass plate of window 104 bymeans of connecting channel 102 whose cavity 103 receives the lower edge of the window. A U-shaped cast iron part of guide member 101 encompasses the U-shaped guide member 105 so that the two guide members may slide in relation to each other over the interposed ball bearings. Stub shafts 107 mount the rollers on the U-shaped part of member 101, and since the rollers are staggered from each other in the direction of sliding movement, a secure guide is achieved.

The hook 110 on guide member 101 engages nylon band 111 which is trained over guide roll 112 mounted on U-rail 105 and to whose other end a balancing spring 113 is attached. The spring is fastened to housing 115 by means of a screw 114. A hand grip (not illustrated) extends into the interior of the car from the upper edge of the window pane of window 104 so that the window may be readily opened and closed.

Obviously, the hand grip may be replaced by a rotatable handle actuating a ratchet or like drive for moving the window, or the sliding movement may be effected electrically, as is well known. Also, any conventional stop means for holding the window in a given position may be used.

While the invention has been described in connection with certain now preferred embodiments, it will be understood that many modifications and variations may occur to those skilled in the art, particularly after benefiting from the present teaching.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a fixed structure defining an opening, a closure over said opening and slidable in relation thereto, said closure comprising:

(a) a closure panel having a length and a width dimensioned to cover the opening in a closed position of the panel; and

(b) guide means for sliding the closure panel into an open position, said guide means including:

( 1) an elongated guide member extending over the length of the closure panel in the direction of sliding movement, and

(2) a roller guide member carrying a plurality of rollers engaging the elongated guide member and spaced over more than half the periphery of the elongated guide member whereby the elongated guide member is securely held between the rollers, one of the rollers being spaced from two other rollers in the direction of sliding movement,

(3) one of the guide members being aflixed to the fixed structure and the other one of the guide members being fixedly fastened to the closure panel.

2. In the combination of claim 1, wherein said elongated guide member is a post of polygonal cross section.

3. In the combination of claim 2, said elongated guide member having a longitudinal axis, and said rollers being angularly offset relative to said axis over an angle greater than 180.

4. In the combination of claim 3, two of said rollers being offset relative to said axis by an angle of approximately 5. In the combination of claim 1, a counterweight means attached to the closure panel to facilitate the sliding movement thereof and to hold the same in a desired position in relation to the opening. I

6. In the combination of claim 1, the elongated guide member consisting of a plurality of telescoped portions which may be extended and collapsed.

7. In the combination of claim 1, said elongated guide member being substantially U-shaped in cross section.

'8. In the combination of claim 7, a counterweight means, and a flexible elongated element attaching the counterweight means to the closure panel, the elongated element extending through the U-shaped guide member and carrying a counterweight at the end remote from the closure panel.

9. In the combination of claim 1, handle means attached to said closure panel for manually moving the panel toward and away from said closed position.

10. In the combination of claim 1, said guide members and said rollers constituting the only effective guide means connecting said panel member to said fixed structure.

11. In the combination of claim 1, said one guide member being said roller guide member.

12. In the combination of Claim 11, said elenga ted guide member extending substantially over the full length of said closure panel.

. UNITED 8 Life et a1 4-9430 Z011 et a1 49-322 Burridge 49375 X Weathers 49-199 X Bragg 160188 X DAVID WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner 2,789,323 '4/1957 3,188,698 6/1965 3,219,335 11/1965 2,215,678 9/1940 References Cited 5 2,794,634 6/ 1957 STATES PATENTS Nye 49429 Kersting 49429 X Holt et a1. 49375 Levan 49-375 X 10 Gaines et a1. 49431 4977360 445 Bayer 49322 US. Cl. X.R. 

